Short-term functional outcomes of computer assisted navigated high tibial osteotomy.

PURPOSE: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a surgical procedure performed on patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Computer assisted navigated high tibial osteotomy (CAN-HTO) may result in improved outcomes for patients undergoing this procedure. METHODS: Retrospective study involving patients undergoing CAN-HTO. RESULTS: Surveyed thirty-three patients. Average follow-up: 2.3 years. 97% patients reported they would have this procedure performed again, if indicated. Re-operation rate: 6.1% and complication rate: 12.1%. Patients had decreased KOOS for symptoms when compared to non-navigation based HTO (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: There may be merit with the use of CAN-HTO, with demonstrated patient-reported benefits at 2-year follow-up.

Meta-analysis of navigation vs conventional total knee arthroplasty.

Navigated total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is promoted as a means to improve limb and prosthesis alignment. This study involved a systematic review and meta-analysis for all randomized controlled trials in the literature from 1986 to 2009 comparing alignment outcomes between navigated and conventional TKA. Alignment outcomes were pooled using a random-effects model, and heterogeneity was explored. Twenty-three randomized controlled trials were identified comparing navigated vs conventional TKA involving 2541 patients. Patients who underwent navigated TKA had a significantly lower risk of implant malalignment at more than 3° as well as more than 2°. In addition, the risk of malalignment was reduced for the coronal plane tibial and femoral components as well as femoral and tibial slope. This meta-analysis demonstrates that navigated TKA provides significant improvement in prosthesis alignment.

Assessing short-term functional outcomes and knee alignment of computer-assisted navigated total knee arthroplasty.

This retrospective study examined the relationship between the mechanical axis of the knee throughout its functional arc and functional outcomes in patients with computer-assisted navigation total knee arthroplasty. Data on final intraoperative functional arc alignment were obtained on 76 patients who had computer-assisted navigation total knee arthroplasty over a 2-year period and correlated with scores from postoperative Short Form 12 and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities functional outcome surveys. No correlation was found between functional arc alignment and outcomes from Western Ontario and McMaster Universities or Short Form 12 surveys; however, subgroup analysis of patients with more than 3° average final intraoperative alignment throughout the functional arc of motion demonstrated increased difficulty with daily activities (P = .05). The results indicate that patients with more than 3° average alignment throughout the functional arc of motion perform more poorly with daily activities postoperatively.